THURSDAY 30 JANUARY 2020

by | Jan 29, 2020 | Evangelium

thursday 30 JANUARY 2020

 

 

Saint Aedan of Ferns (c.550 – 632)

He was the son of an Irish tribal chieftain and studied under St Finian and St David. He was the first bishop of Ferns, in Ireland, and founded many churches and monasteries.

Green

 

 

Entrance Antiphon : Ps 95: 1, 6

O sing a new song to the Lord; sing to the Lord, all the earth. In his presence are majesty and splendour, strength and honour in his holy place.

 

Collect

Almighty ever-living God, direct our actions according to your good pleasure, that in the name of your beloved Son, we may abound in good works. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

 

First reading: 2 Sam 7:18-19,24-29

After Nathan had spoken to him, King David went in and, seated before the Lord, said: ‘Who am I, O Lord, and what is my House, that you have led me as far as this? Yet in your sight, O Lord, this is still not far enough, and you make your promises extend to the House of your servant for a far-distant future. You have constituted your people Israel to be your own people for ever; and you, Lord, have become their God. ‘Now, O Lord, always keep the promise you have made your servant and his House, and do as you have said. Your name will be exalted forever and men will say, “The Lord of Hosts is God over Israel.” The House of your servant David will be made secure in your presence, since you yourself, Lord of Hosts, God of Israel, have made this revelation to your servant, “I will build you a House”; hence your servant has ventured to offer this prayer to you. Yes, Lord, you are God indeed, your words are true and you have made this fair promise to your servant. Be pleased, then, to bless the House of your servant, that it may continue forever in your presence; for you, Lord, have spoken; and with your blessing the House of your servant will be forever blessed.’

 

Psalm 131(132):1-5,11-14

R/  The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David.

 

  1. O Lord, remember David and all the many hardships he endured, the oath he swore to the Lord, his vow to the Strong One of Jacob.
  2. ‘I will not enter the house where I live nor go to the bed where I rest. I will give no sleep to my eyes, to my eyelids I will give no slumber till I find a place for the Lord, a dwelling for the Strong One of Jacob.’
  3. The Lord swore an oath to David; he will not go back on this word: ‘A son, the fruit of your body, will I set upon your throne.
  4. ‘If they keep my covenant in truth and my laws that I have taught them, their sons also shall rule on your throne from age to age.’
  5. For the Lord has chosen Zion; he has desired it for his dwelling: ‘This is my resting-place for ever; here have I chosen to live.

 

Gospel Acclamation : Ph 2: 15-16

Alleluia, alleluia! You will shine in the world like bright stars because you are offering it the word of life. Alleluia!

 

Gospel: Mark 4: 21-25

Jesus said to the crowd, ‘Would you bring in a lamp to put it under a tub or under the bed? Surely you will put it on the lamp-stand? For there is nothing hidden but it must be disclosed, nothing kept secret except to be brought to light. If anyone has ears to hear, let him listen to this.’ He also said to them, ‘Take notice of what you are hearing. The amount you measure out is the amount you will be given – and more besides; for the man who has will be given more; from the man who has not, even what he has will be taken away.’

 

Prayer over the Offerings

Accept our offerings, O Lord, we pray, and in sanctifying them, grant that they may profit us for salvation. Through Christ our Lord.

 

Communion Antiphon: Cf. Ps 33: 6

Look toward the Lord and be radiant; let your faces not be abashed.

 

Prayer after Communion

Grant, we pray, almighty God, that, receiving the grace by which you bring us to new life, we may always glory in your gift. Through Christ our Lord.

 

 

Meditation

The First Readings of yesterday and today are centred on 2 Samuel 7. In effect, David’s decision to erect a house for God is answered by a prophetic message from Nathan that it is the Lord’s purpose to build an everlasting house. From the seed of David would come the Messiah, Jesus Christ. Though this Davidic Promise had some immediate impact on his successor to the throne, fulfilment of this promise would be found in Jesus, the King of Kings. In effect, echoes of 2 Samuel 7 reverberate throughout the Old Testament, early Judaism, and Christianity in ways that can hardly be overstated. Finally, one of the most striking usage of 2 Samuel 7 is in Lk 1:32b-33 in which the Angel Gabriel, repeated the same promise: “The Lord God will give…the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; and his Kingdom will have no end”. Jesus is called the Son of David in the New Testament (Mathew 20:29 – 34 and 21:9).